The Diversity Scholar Program is a coaching, training, and recruiting program designed to help law students secure their dream employment while simultaneously preparing them with the skills, knowledge, confidence, and savvy they need to flourish in their legal positions and advance in corporate leadership roles.
The first-year law students who are accepted into the Program receive training in substantive and soft skills from the best attorneys in the country to gain competencies required of them as summer associates and as attorneys in their early years of practice.
Scholars also work one-on-one with a certified PracticePro career coach who will help them devise an individualized job search and networking strategy and provide full assistance before and during on-campus interviews (OCI) to secure a position, assess law firms, handle complex situations, and otherwise navigate the legal recruiting landscape. Scholars (and scholarship runners-up) also participate in exclusive PracticePro recruiting events with our law firm partners.
- Free tuition to attend a PracticePro Career Conference (Spring 2024)
- Participation in exclusive recruiting events and resume collection (Spring/Summer 2024)
- Career coaching package, including customized coaching sessions and email coaching (April – September 2024)
- Pre-OCI and summer associate training webinars on topics covering resumes and cover letters, advanced interviewing techniques, networking, assessing firms, and more (Spring & Summer 2024)
- Recommendations for employment and scholarships to our firm partners (Summer 2024)
- Mentorship match to in-house corporate counsel to learn client collaboration and business development (after bar admission)
As a PracticePro Scholar, you will have the opportunity to expand your skills:
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In the last 10 years, almost 400 students have been admitted and participated in the 1L Diversity Scholar Program. Below are some examples of employers who have hired them as summer associates or post graduation.
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- First-year law student (Class of 2026) enrolled at an ABA-accredited law school; and
- A personal background that contributes to the diversity of the legal profession, including but not limited to gender, racial, or ethnic groups historically underrepresented in the legal profession, the LGBTQ+ community, those with a disability, socioeconomic need, military experience, first-generation educational status, or other considerable hardships or challenges; and
- A strong commitment to increasing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in the legal profession.
1. 1L Diversity Scholar Program Application Form
2. Resume
3. A short statement (400 word limit) on how your life experiences have impacted your desire to become an attorney, your commitment to diversity and inclusion in the legal profession, and why you would like to be part of the 1L Diversity Scholar Program. (Please include the total word count at the end of the page.)
4. Undergraduate transcript
5. Law school transcript
6. A 2-minute video introducing yourself
Submission Instructions:
- Please submit #2-6 by emailing scholarships@practicepro.cc, email subject line “Diversity Scholar Program – [your law school name]”.
- You must submit one PDF, containing items #2-4 (or #2-5 if you apply after first semester law school grades become available), titled “Full Name (Law School)_1L DSP Application,” e.g., Bailey Robinson (Emory)_1L DSP Application. You can either include a link to your video (#6) in the PDF file or attach it as a separate file in your transmission email.
- We are aware that some law schools may not release grades until after the January application deadline. You must apply before the deadline, and then supplement your application with your law school transcript as soon as your grades are released. If you have to supplement your application with your law school transcript after the application deadline, please submit it as a PDF titled “Full Name (Your Law School)_Law School Transcript,” e.g., Bailey Robinson (Emory)_Law School Transcript.
- Unofficial copies of transcripts are sufficient. Please ensure that you include a transcript/grades for any credits that transferred to your undergraduate institution.
- For #6, smartphone recordings are fine. Please ensure that you have not restricted the accessibility or permission to view your video prior to sending it to us. The video needs to be available for download. We prefer standalone MP4 files that can be sent as an attachment in your application email. You can also share a Vimeo or YouTube link which can be unlisted but must remain available for access until August 1, 2024.
- Don’t forget to submit #1 (the Application Form)!
- Leadership and ambition
- Academic excellence
- Excellent writing and interpersonal skills
- Character: resilience, grit, integrity
- Adherence to instructions
Bonus: early application (before December 31), great application organization.
Firm & Corporate Diversity Partners
Diversity Founders
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Diversity Leaders
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Diversity Champions
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Diversity Benefactors
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Aaliyah Channer
Cornell Law School
“The entire PracticePro team is amazing! I am grateful to have had such exceptional guidance during my 2L summer job search. Given that the market is transitioning more heavily towards pre-OCI in what is an already competitive market, the PracticePro team was able to take me through current trends and opportunities while also providing strategies on how best to achieve my goals. I followed the tips and points I got through coaching to the “T” and as a result I was able to secure many options without strain. It’s clear by the PracticePro team’s actions that they are dedicated and committed to helping every student achieve their very best outcome. I left each coaching session feeling confident about the strategies and decisions I was considering, and the PracticePro coaches gave me the tools to have the best possible chance at succeeding. From resume review to practice interviews and detailed evaluations of 2L summer job offers to decide on the best fit, the PracticePro team services are unparalleled. I will carry PracticePro’s guidance throughout my career!”
Jiachen Feng
Columbia Law School
“PracticePro and Niki has been a place that I could turn to for guidance, assurance, and honest and individualized advice. The support and feedback I got from PracticePro’s LSM and DSP programs were incredibly helpful as I navigate 1L year and approach recruiting in a changing legal market. The attorneys I’ve met through PracticePro are also champions of mentorship and diversity, with whom I still stay in touch. Thanks to the resources at PracticePro, I was able to get my dream offers early on and build lasting relationships.”
Mahi Taban
UVA
“PracticePro has been an invaluable resource during the 2L recruitment process. With the help of PracticePro, I was able to position myself as a stronger, more competitive applicant. With their help, I landed a job at a top firm in my market. Through my participation in PracticePro, I have gained skills, experiences, and connections that I can take with my through the rest of my professional career. I am so grateful for this program and truly cannot recommend it more highly. ”
Nicole Leon-Elvir
Berkeley Law
“As a Latina and first-generation college graduate and law student, I wasn’t sure what to say expect or how to navigate the big law search. PracticePro’s conference was foundational for me as I entered my 1L position because it taught me how to network and submit good work product. Additionally, I don’t think I would have done well in OCI without PracticePro and Niki’s profound insight and advice about different firms and markets. The community and support has been phenomenal and I’m so walking into my 2L summer confident thanks to PracticePro.”
William Lee
Georgetown Law
“PracticePro is the real deal. I started off at a lower ranked school (which isn’t necessarily a bad thing!) without really knowing what I wanted to do with a law degree. PracticePro helped me transfer to a great school, narrow my professional goals, and land a biglaw job – each of which is a mammoth task in its own right. As an immigrant, I didn’t know ANYTHING about the U.S. legal profession. Niki and the PracticePro team helped fill in the gaps. Thank God for them!”
Darren Chen
SMU Dedman School of Law
“The most important trait that PracticePro help me with was my confidence. The coaching gave me valuable insights into myself and helped me visualize my own improvements over time. I felt myself getting better at interviews and it kept my morale up throughout the law school job hunting process. I can’t say that I’m a particularly great student so I firmly believe that the resources that PracticePro gave me was the needed push that helped me land my 2L summer firm job. Additionally, the conferences allowed me to expand my knowledge of the various law firms out there and what they are looking for. Knowledge is power and preparation is the key to success, both of which PracticePro helps provide.”
Maramawit “Mara” Abera
USC Gould School of Law
“As a first-generation law student, I had no idea what I was getting into when going to law school and certainly not when pursuing OCI, so for me, PracticePro was an absolute game-changer in my 2L job search. The unwavering support, guidance, and expertise I received was pivotal as I navigated the pre-OCI and OCI process. Thanks to Practice Pro, I walked out job offers with several job offers and diversity scholarships from top law firms. Still, what struck me most, was that through coaching, I was able to understand not just the “what” but the “why” of my career choices. The coaches’ dedication and passion for helping aspiring, diverse lawyers are truly remarkable, and PracticePro’s program is a testament to its commitment to our success. With the invaluable resources and personalized mentorship, I not only gained the skills and confidence I needed to secure a meaningful position but also found a community that feels like family. Thanks to PracticePro, I’m not just pursuing a legal career; I’m embarking on a journey filled with purpose and promise.”
Mili Yoon
Northwestern Law
“Thank you PracticePro for helping me transfer to a T14 law school and get a post-graduation dream job, and for creating a vibrant community that advocates for more diversity and equity in the legal profession. Niki and her team are incredibly kind, brilliant, knowledgeable, and they really care about the success of each student at PracticePro.”